User Guide 2.0 Using the Aplio/Phone

Using the Aplio/Phone

Now that you have finished configuration, you can start using the Aplio/Phone and begin saving money on long distance calls.

Making a call using the Aplio/Phone Standard Mode

Note: You may use your Aplio/Phone only with the telephone directly connected to the device.

1. Pick up your telephone receiver and dial the phone number of the person you want to call. Make sure you are calling someone who also uses an Aplio/Phone.

2. Once your party answers, tell them you will now press the button to switch your call over to the Internet.

Note: Typically the calling party will press the button. However, either party may press the button as long as it is only pressed once, by one person. The receiving party must wait at least ten seconds before pressing the button.

3. Once the button is pressed, both parties will hear a series of beeps followed by the voice prompt saying: "Connection in progress. Please wait. You may hang up now." Do not hang up until prompted to do so.

4. When the Aplio/Phone has switched the call to the Internet, both party's phones will ring. Answer the phone to begin your conversation. The entire process will take about one minute.
You are now talking over the Internet ( simply hang up when your call is completed.

Note: If the Aplio/Phone was unable to complete your Internet call, your phone will ring and the voice prompt will give you an error message. Check "Problems and Solutions" for a solution.

Receiving a call with the Aplio/Phone

Receiving a call is essentially the same as making a call. Follow these steps:

1. Since the call is initiated as a regular telephone call, you start by answering your telephone as you normally would. If you answer on an extension other than the one connected to the Aplio/Phone, you will need to move to the correct extension.

2. The caller will press the button and switch the call to the Internet. As the receiving party, you do not have to do anything.

3. Once the button is pressed, both parties will hear a series of beeps followed by the voice prompt saying: "Connection in progress. Please wait. You may hang up now." Do not hang up until prompted to do so.

4. When the Aplio/Phone has switched the call to the Internet, both party's phones will ring. Answer the phone to begin your conversation. The entire process will take about one minute.

5. You are now talking over the Internet ( simply hang up when your call is completed.

Holding a conversation using the Aplio/Phone

Voice communication over the Internet is very similar to a regular phone call. However, there are some differences of which you should be aware.

You may experience a delay of about a half-second or so. Depending on the Internet connection, the delay may be shorter (300 ms) or longer (up to two seconds) and the duration may vary during the call. Throughout the call, the Aplio/Phone's Quality Enhancer will adjust the quality. The Quality Enhancer is an internal gauge that measures Internet traffic and adjusts communication quality and delay accordingly.

Important! Internet congestion may also affect your call. The Aplio/Phone uses the following three signals to tell you that Internet traffic is increasing:

At the first sign of congestion, the button will flash.

If the congestion increases, all three Aplio/Phone buttons will flash.

Finally, if congestion reaches a point at which you are at risk of losing your connection, the voice prompt will say "Internet congested."

If one or more of these alerts occur, do not hang up. Instead wait for a moment to see if the congestion subsides. If it does not, you may want to hang up and try your call again later or during off-peak Internet hours.

Making a call using the Aplio/Phone 100% Free Mode

The enhanced functionality of 100% Free Mode (formerly known as Economy Mode) can make it possible for you to avoid the cost of an initial long distance call.

To use 100% Free Mode, both parties must set a time to start the call. The receiving party must set their Aplio/Phone to 100% Free Mode at the specified time and the calling party must place the call using the receiving party's Aplio ID. The caller's Aplio/Phone will locate the receiving party's Aplio/Phone using the Find Me feature.

Note: Because the Aplio/Phone must dial out and connect to the Internet when using 100% Free Mode, any local phone connection or Internet connection charges will apply for the entire time the unit is in 100% Free Mode.

About the Find Me feature

The Aplio/Phone's Find Me feature allows another Aplio/Phone user to contact you using your Aplio ID, as long as your Aplio/Phone is set to use 100% Free Mode. With Find Me, another Aplio/Phone user can reach you without having to know where you are or even what phone number you are dialing from. This is important if you are traveling and cannot accurately predict when you schedule a call, where you will be when the call is placed.

You can give your Aplio ID to other Aplio/Phone users in much the same way that you would share your phone or fax number or your pager number. To find the Aplio ID:

1. Turn the Aplio/Phone over so the bottom of the device is facing upward.

2. Locate the Aplio/Phone serial number in the middle of the bottom side of the Aplio/Phone. The serial number is an 8-digit number printed on the same sticker as the bar code.

3. The Aplio ID is the same as the serial number without the leading zeros.
For example, if the serial number is 00044390, the Aplio ID is 44390. By calling 44390 when your Aplio/Phone is set to 100% Free Mode, another Aplio/Phone user will be able to find you.

Setting your Aplio/Phone to use 100% Free Mode

To set your Aplio/Phone to 100% Free Mode:

1. If you are the receiving party, press the button once without taking the receiver off the hook. The button will begin flashing.
A voice prompt will say (over the speakerphone) "Connection in progress, please wait". When the connection to the Internet is established, the voice prompt will say "Connection successful". Your Aplio/Phone is now connected to the Internet and waiting to receive an Aplio/Phone call.

2. As the receiving party, you must wait for the other person to call you. Remember that you have to answer the call on the telephone directly connected to your Aplio/Phone.

3. When the call comes in, your phone will ring and the button will flash. Answer the phone to begin your conversation. You are now talking over the Internet. Hang up when you are finished.

4. To manually exit 100% Free Mode, press the button.

Permanent 100% Free Mode

You may choose to always keep your Aplio/Phone set to 100% Free Mode. By doing so, you can be reached at any time, anywhere, without the need for an initial call and its accompanying long distance charges.

To keep your Aplio/Phone in 100% Free Mode:

1. From the Main Options menu, press to enter Extended Configuration Mode.

2. Press then press to enable Permanent 100% Free Mode.

3. Then press to accept.

Note: Because the Aplio/Phone must dial out and connect to the Internet when using 100% Free Mode, any local phone connection or Internet connection charges will apply for the entire time the unit is in 100% Free Mode.

Calling an Aplio/Phone that is set to use 100% Free Mode

1. If you are the calling party, pick up the receiver on the telephone attached your Aplio/Phone, then press the button.

2. Press the key and dial the recipient's Aplio ID (serial number), then press the button on your Aplio/Phone.

3. Follow the voice prompts. Do not hang up until prompted to do so.
The Aplio/Phone will take approximately one minute to make the connection. Once the connection is made, your telephone will ring.

4. Pick up the receiver on the telephone that is attached to your Aplio/Phone and begin your conversation. You are now talking over the Internet - simply hang up when you are finished.

Calling an Aplio/Phone from a PC

You can communicate with millions of PC users for the cost of a local call and without additional equipment.

How it works

From your PC, you can call any Aplio/Phone User using NetMeeting or Aplio/Dialer. Both are Free downloads!

For users who are not familiar with NetMeeting, Aplio/Dialer is very easy to use: just choose a name in the Phone book and click on the call button - it's that simple !

Configuration of the PC to call an Aplio/Phone using NetMeeting

1. Make sure that your PC is equipped with speakers and a microphone and that they are working properly. Check that you have a Full Duplex sound card and that the driver is correctly installed.

Note: For better sound quality, an external microphone is preferred.

2. You need the NetMeeting software on your PC. You can obtain the latest free download version from the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting.

3. Then you need to indicate the address of the H.323 Gateway NetMeeting will use to call Aplio/Phones.
To do so, in NetMeeting go to the 'Tools' menu then to 'Options' and choose the 'Audio' Tab. In the section 'Calling a telephone using NetMeeting', check the box 'Use H.323 gateway' and indicate the gateway number : 194.98.253.20

To confirm, click on the OK button.

You are now ready to call any Aplio/Phone User.

Calling an Aplio/Phone from a PC using NetMeeting

Once you have configured the PC (see paragraph above), you are ready to call an Aplio/Phone:

1. The Aplio/Phone you want to call must be in 100% Free Mode. To do so, the receiving party must press the button once without taking the receiver off the hook. The button will begin flashing.
A voice prompt will say (over the speakerphone) "Connection in progress, please wait". When the connection to the Internet is established, the voice prompt will say "Connection successful".

The Aplio/Phone is now connected to the Internet and waiting to receive a call.

Note: As the receiving party, you must wait for the other person to call you. Remember that you have to answer the call on the telephone directly connected to your Aplio/Phone.

You can be called at anytime by a PC user if you are in Permanent 100% Free Mode (see Permanent 100% Free Mode).

2. On the caller's side , turn on your microphone and speakers and adjust the volume of the speakers. In NetMeeting click on the 'Call' button. In the 'New Call' window that pops up:

in the 'Call using' section select H.323 Gateway

in 'Address', indicate the Aplio ID of the Aplio/Phone you want to call.

Note: The Aplio ID is the same as the serial number (located under the Aplio/phone on the same sticker as the bar code) without the leading zeros. For example, if the serial number is 00044390, the Aplio ID is 44390.

Click on the 'Call' button

3. When the call comes in, the phone connected to the Aplio/Phone will ring and the button will flash. Answer the phone to begin your conversation. You are now talking over the Internet.

4. When you have finished you call, hang up your phone or click on the 'Hang up' button in NetMeeting.

5. The Aplio/Phone will remain in 100% Free mode for 20 minutes, which is the default duration of the 100% Free Mode. If you want to exit 100% Free Mode manually, press the button.

Note: The Aplio ID is the same as the serial number (located under the Aplio/phone on the same sticker as the bar code) without the leading zeros. For example, if the serial number is 00044390, the Aplio ID is 44390.

Configuration of the PC to call an Aplio/Phone using Aplio/Dialer

1. Make sure that your PC is equipped with speakers and a microphone and that they are working properly. Check to make sure you have a Full Duplex sound card and that the driver is correctly installed.

Note: For a better sound quality, an external microphone is preferred.

2. Download the free Aplio/Dialer from Aplio's web site at www.aplio.com/dialer. Make a note of the folder where you placed the downloaded file. Log off the Internet and exit all running programs. Open the Windows Explorer and double click on the file you just downloaded. Aplio/Dialer will install itself.

3. Download a free copy of Microsoft NetMeeting at http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting and install it.

4. You are now ready to call any Aplio/Phone User.

Making a Call between a PC and an Aplio/Phone using Aplio/Dialer.

When calling between a PC and an Aplio/Phone, the PC user must initiate the call and the Aplio/Phone must be set to 100% Free Mode so that it can receive the incoming call.

The sections below outline the steps required for both the PC user making the call and the Aplio/Phone user receiving the call.

Calling an Aplio/Phone from a PC using Aplio/Dialer

1. Configure your computer and install the software as noted in the section above.

2. Turn on your microphone and speakers and adjust the volume of the speakers.

3. In Aplio Dialer:

Click on the Add button and enter the name and Aplio ID of the Aplio/Phone User you want to call.
The Aplio ID is the same as the serial number (located under the Aplio/phone on the same sticker as the bar code) without the beginning zeros. For example, if the serial number is 00044390, the Aplio ID is 44390.

Click on the name of the Person you want to call and then click on the Call button.

Receiving a Call from a PC using Aplio/Dialer with your Aplio/Phone

As the receiving party, you must wait for the other person to call you. Remember that you have to answer the call on the telephone directly connected to your Aplio/Phone.

1. Place the Aplio/Phone in 100% Free Mode. To do this, press the button once without taking the receiver off the hook. The button will begin flashing.
A voice prompt from the speakerphone will say "Connection in progress, please wait". When the connection to the Internet is established, the voice prompt will say "Connection successful".

The Aplio/Phone is now connected to the Internet and waiting to receive a call.

Note: You can be called at anytime by a PC user if you are in Permanent 100% Free Mode (see Permanent 100% Free Mode).

2. When the call comes in, the phone connected to the Aplio/Phone will ring and the button will flash. Answer the phone to begin your conversation. You are now talking over the Internet.

3. When you have finished you call, hang up your phone or click on the 'Hang up' button in NetMeeting.

4. The Aplio/Phone will remain in 100% Free mode for 20 minutes, which is the default duration of the 100% Free Mode. If you want to exit 100% Free Mode manually, press the button.

Note: If you want to change the default value of the duration of the 100% Free Mode, see Other Extended Configuration parameters.

Calling in 100% Free Mode anytime, without appointment

With the Wakeup Call, all your calls can be in 100% Free mode, even if the called party is not already in 100% Free Mode when you want to call. So you do not have to make an appointment for your call and you can call anytime.

How it Works

You dial the usual telephone number of the Aplio/Phone you want to call and you let it ring less than a predefined number of times; then you hang up.

The Aplio/Phone of the receiving party detects the call you have just made with less than (or equal to) the number of rings defined in the configuration and sets itself automatically to 100% Free Mode.

Then you call in 100% Free mode using the Aplio ID of the receiving party.

Note: The Aplio/Phone you want to call has to activate the Wakeup Call feature. The number of rings can be customized by the user. By default, this feature is inactive, that means that the number of rings is set to zero.

If the called Aplio/Phone detects more than the specified number of rings, It will not set itself in 100% Free Mode.

Activation and Number of Rings of the Wakeup Call

This feature has to be activated in the Aplio/Phone of the receiving party with parameter 51 of the Extended configuration. This parameter defines the maximum number of rings that have to be heard by the called Aplio/Phone before it starts connecting automatically in 100% Free mode. We recommend setting this parameter to 2 : if the Aplio/Phone of the called party receives a call with two rings or less, it will connect automatically in 100% Free Mode (for call of three rings or more, it will not connect in 100% Free Mode).

To activate and define the number of rings:

1. Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone, then press the button twice. You will hear the Main Options menu voice prompt. Press to enter Extended Configuration mode.

2. Press then the desired number of rings (2 recommended) followed by the key. Then press to accept.

Calling an Aplio/Phone using Wakeup Call

The called Aplio/Phone has to activate the Wakeup Call.

1. Dial the usual telephone number of the called Aplio/Phone and let ring less than the number of rings defined for the Wakeup Call then Hang up. (See Activation and Number of Rings of the Wakeup Call).

2. One minute after, call the receiving Aplio/Phone in 100% Free mode, using the Aplio ID:

Pick up the receiver on the telephone attached your Aplio/Phone, then press the button.

Press the key and dial the recipient's Aplio ID (serial number), then press the button on your Aplio/Phone. Follow the voice prompts. Do not hang up until prompted to do so.

The Aplio/Phone will take approximately one minute to make the connection. Once the connection is made, your telephone will ring.

Pick up the receiver on the telephone that is attached to your Aplio/Phone and begin your conversation. You are now talking over the Internet ( simply hang up when you are finished.

Deactivation of the Wakeup Call

To Deactivate this feature, you have to set the number of rings to 0:

1. Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone, then press the button twice. You will hear the Main Options menu voice prompt. Press to enter Extended Configuration mode.

2. Press followed by . Then press to accept.

Duration of the connection after a Wakeup Call

Once you have received a Wakeup Call and if this feature is activated in the receiving APLIO/PHONE, the receiving unit is connected to the internet in 100% Free Mode for a duration of 5 minutes by default. It means that it will stay connected during 5 minutes, even after the end of the call if your call lasted less than five minutes.

If you want to change the duration of the connection after a Wakeup Call:

1. Lift the receiver and listen for the dial tone, then press the button twice. You will hear the Main Options menu voice prompt. Press to enter Extended Configuration mode.

2. Press and the duration in minutes followed by . Then press to accept.

Note: Because the Aplio/Phone must dial out and connect to the Internet when using 100% Free Mode, any local phone connection or Internet connection charges will apply for the entire time the unit is in 100% Free Mode.

Using the speakerphone

The Aplio/Phone is equipped with a speakerphone that lets you communicate hands-free. You may use the speakerphone function at any time, whether or not your Internet connection is active.

The speakerphone is activated by pressing the button, located between the and buttons on the front of the Aplio/Phone.

Activating the Speaker-only Mode

Press the button once to activate the speaker only (not the microphone). The button will illuminate to indicate the speaker is active. You can adjust the volume of the speaker by using the and buttons. This will also adjust the volume of your handset.

Note: You must speak through the handset in Speaker-only Mode.

Activating Hands-free Mode

1. Press the button twice (or once more if you have already activated the speaker) to activate the built-in microphone and enable hands-free communication.

2. The button will flash to indicate that you are in Hands-free Mode. You may now hang up your telephone receiver and continue to hold your conversation.

Note: The range of the microphone is limited. Position yourself as close to the microphone as possible.

Deactivating the speakerphone

To turn off the speaker and microphone, press the button a third time. This will turn off the speaker and microphone and the button will stop flashing. If your telephone receiver is on the hook, deactivating the speakerphone will also end your call.